Did you know? Some priests are married - Pope Francis to discuss married priests, but here's why

Pope Francis to discuss possibility of married priests under specific circusmtances.

No, priests aren't allowed to marry in the Catholic Church, despite recent comments from Pope Francis. Despite media hype and contrived controversy, there is nothing dramatic about Pope Francis' latest request to discuss the very limited use of married priests. The Church already has some married priests serving the faithful. This should not be taken as a sign that all priests will soon be allowed to marry.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Pope Francis has called for a discussion over the possibility of using married men as priests in the Amazon region of Brazil where there is only 1 priest for every 10,000 people and travel is difficult. Cardinal Claudio Hummes, the president of the Episcopal Commission for the Amazon, made the request for a discussion to Pope Francis. The Cardinal stated that paganism and evangelical Christianity are displacing the Church in the Amazon. The discussion may also include the topic of ordaining women in a limited capacity.

The Church already allows married men to serve as priests under specific circumstances. For example, former Episcopal priests who are married and have reunited with the Catholic Church, continue to serve their Catholic congregations while married. There are some married priests in the Coptic and Eastern rites of the Church. And in some places in Africa, there are allegedly priests who have families, in accord with ancient and distinct local customs.

The restriction against married men serving as priests is a medieval tradition adopted to ensure that parish priests serve God and their parishioners above all others. The tradition is popular with the Church consistently affirming it throughout history. There is biblical precedent for the rule, but it is rightfully a Church rule, and there is no prohibition against married priests in the Bible or from God. The Church is free to discuss and even change the rule, although the pope alone cannot make such a change.

Celibacy among the clergy is also important. Celibacy is something that many people are called to, even sometimes married couples. Celibacy is often a sign of a life consecrated to God and for such people it is not a struggle or a burden, but rather a natural way to be as one serves God and their neighbors.

Pope Francis has made it clear he supports celibacy for priests. However, he has also made clear that married priests would not necessarily be called to celibacy, but would instead lead a "normal married life."

The call for a discussion on this topic isn't particularly dramatic. The Church is expected to discuss these topics as situations arise. The idea of using married priests is just one possible solution and any honest attempt to address the concerns should include studying all reasonable remedies. However, just because a topic is discussed does not mean changes are imminent or are even under serious consideration. Nor is the idea particularly sensational and the media should refrain from hyping it as such.

If the Church later chooses to allow married priests, then so what? There is nothing scandalous about marriage, which is itself a Holy Sacrament the same as Holy Orders. Under God, the Sacraments are not mutually exclusive.

Pope Francis remarked to the German newspaper, Die Zeit, "We must consider if viri probati is a possibility. Then we must determine what tasks they can perform, for example, in remote communities."

It is possible the Church may permit some married priests with limited commission to perform specific duties. As such, these priests would be similar to deacons, who can be married and perform vital tasks of assistance to ordained priests.

The topic is expected to be discussed over a series of regional conferences scheduled for the next two years. Specifically, it will be discussed in 2019 during a bishop's synod on the Amazon region. That synod is now being planned in Rome.